Benchmarking of WEB-methods and WEB-tools

Dag Ravemark, ABB

2003

ABSTRACT This report was made within the project DANTES that is supported by the EU Life Environment Programme. This benchmarking report on web-tools is a starting formal delivery to EU by the DANTES project. The aim of DANTES is not to develop new tools but instead to use the best tools developed and to integrate and launch them in an efficient way. This report is to see what is available for that purpose on the Internet. The purpose of this report is to identify and perform an assessment of applicable methods and web-based tools. 16 tools are described and evaluated. Some of the tools are freely available on the Internet, some require that one register with a username and password and two are only available on the ABB-intranet. One conclusion from the existing tools is that tools with a clear goal and limited scope requires less user input and seems to function better. That a tool is limited in scope does not mean that it is limited in use. It is easier for a user to understand the use and result of a tool, when the input and output from a tool is limited. A DANTES web platform with several specific and well-defined tools is probably more flexible than a platform with fewer tools where each tool trying to cover a larger problem area. When selecting tools for a future DANTES web platform is important to consider the input to output ratio. A tool that requires lots of input to deliver a simple (and obvious) result will not lead to satisfied users. It is important to understand that users in general are not interested in using good tools but to be successful in their daily work so what users really want are tools that can answer questions with hardly any input at all. Additionally it should be emphasized that for a tool to be successful, its use should be supported with a policy in a company.

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TABLE OF CONTENT

ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................. 2

1. INTRODUCTION TO EVALUATION................................................................................. 5

1.1 How tools are evaluated ...............................................................................................................5

1.2 Types of tools ................................................................................................................................5

1.3 Quick evaluation of tools .............................................................................................................6

2. RAVEL TOOL.................................................................................................................... 7

3. SUSTAINABILITY SITE AT ABB...................................................................................... 8

4. SPINE AT CPM SITE TOOL ............................................................................................. 9

5. INSTEP FROM ECO-FRONTIERS.................................................................................. 10

6. LCALIGHT ...................................................................................................................... 10

7. LCA-E.............................................................................................................................. 11

8. WWLCAW ....................................................................................................................... 12

9. OMNIITOX....................................................................................................................... 12

10. TOXNET ...................................................................................................................... 13

11. INTERNATIONAL MATERIAL DATA SYSTEM (IMDS) ............................................. 15

12. VISMUT ....................................................................................................................... 15

13. NTMCALC ................................................................................................................... 16

14. EMISSION CALCULATION......................................................................................... 16

15. MILJÖKALKYL............................................................................................................ 17

16. IRIS .............................................................................................................................. 18

17. SOIL SCREENING CALCULATIONS ......................................................................... 18 3

18. OTHER WEB-BASED COMMERCIAL TOOLS........................................................... 19

18.1 Environmental management system.........................................................................................19

18.2 Material Safety Data Sheets ......................................................................................................20

18.3 SAP EH&S applications ............................................................................................................20

19. TOOLS MENTIONED IN REQUIREMENT ANALYSIS REPORT ............................... 20

19.1 EUSES .........................................................................................................................................20

19.2 Strategy Wheel............................................................................................................................20

19.3 Material Intensity Per Unit Service (MIPS) ............................................................................20

20. CONCLUSION............................................................................................................. 21

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1. INTRODUCTION TO EVALUATION In this report an assessment of different web-tools are presented. The aim of the assessment is to see if the tools can be integrated in a future DANTES web-platform.

1.1 How tools are evaluated The evaluations of tools are presented in the following headlines. The evaluation text is kept to a minimum. The objective was to be as clear and concise as possible and not copy large text segments from the home pages. Tool Name, where it can be found, who has made it, etc. Purpose What is the main use, secondary use, what area(s), what users is it aimed for,... Description What questions are answered, what input is needed, etc. Use Difficulties, advantages, training needs, etc. Evaluation How the tool fulfills the purpose, how well are the questions answered? Critique What drawbacks, missing parts, possible extensions. Value Would anyone be willing to pay for the tool? Is anyone currently doing the tasks that the tool is supporting and will the tool help them? Will someone start doing the tasks that the tool is supporting now that the tool is there? Development Is the tool the result of a project or will it be further developed. Relevance to DANTES Could it be used in DANTES or is it possible to apply the used methods within the DANTES framework?

1.2 Types of tools Tools can be divided into different types (a tool can appear several times, under different headlines) dependent on what tasks or questions the tool address. For more information on tools, see the chapter describing the tool.

• Material content (of components/products) o RAVEL - managing material content of components o INSTEP - enter aggregated material content of components o IMDS - managing material information in automotive

industry • Information storage (and search)

o RAVEL - possibility to store and search for information on components.

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o Sustainability site (at ABB) - information on a vide range of environmental topics.

o SPINE@CPM - storage and retrieving LCI data. o OMNIITOX - toxicological information. o TOXNET - search portal to a number of risk and health

databases. o IRIS - search toxicological effects of chemicals

• Calculation o LCALight - quick LCA calculations from a reduced set of

LCI data o WWLCAW - general web-based LCA calculation tool o LCA-E - environmental impact of circuit boards o RAVEL - calculating EPIs and aggregating material

content o VISMUT - calculation EPIs for SME o Soil Screening Calculations - calculating the threshold

value for soil contamination • DFE support

o INSTEP - the prototype had guidelines for PC design and manufacture.

o RAVEL - the prototype contained material guidelines and some guidelines for train manufacturing.

• Transport calculation tools o NMTCalc - define your own transport chain. o Emission Calculation - European transports by Schenker

logistics. o Miljökalkyl - Comparative analysis of air, ship, road and

rail transports between towns in Sweden

1.3 Quick evaluation of tools If the tool is publicly available is indicated with (+) publicly available or (-) not publicly available. Tools are graded (subjectively) on if the purpose of the tool fits within DANTES framework (++, +, 0, - or --). The dominant positive rating of tools in this column is due to the fact that we have selected tools that could fit DANTES e.g. MATLAB would get a (--). If the tool works and if the tool fits in the DANTES framework is graded (++, +, 0, - or --) with 0 meaning it cannot be evaluated.

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Publicly available

Purpose fits DANTES

Tool works

Tool fits in DANTES

RAVEL TOOL - + + + SUSTAINABILITY SITE AT ABB

- ++ ++ ++

SPINE AT CPM + ++ ++ ++ INSTEP FROM ECO-FRONTIERS

- ++ + +

LCALIGHT - ++ ++ ++ LCA-E + ++ + ++

WWLCAW + ++ + ++ OMNIITOX - ++ -- 0 TOXNET + ++ ++ ++ IMDS - - 0 - VISMUT - + ++ + NTMCALC + ++ ++ ++ EMISSION CALCULATION

+ ++ ++ ++

MILJÖKALKYL + ++ ++ ++ IRIS + ++ ++ ++ SOIL SCREENING CALCULATIONS

+ 0 ++ -

2. RAVEL TOOL Tool The RAVEL DFE Tool is available at CPM. The tool is a result of Brite/Euram project RAVEL (Rail vehicle eco-efficient design), BE97- 4174. The results of RAVEL are developed and implemented further in the EU-project REPID Purpose The tool was constructed to manage the information on what material is present in a railway vehicle and to calculate environmental performance indicators, also developed within the RAVEL project. The tool should also be a design support tool helping designers and decision makers to make environmentally sound designs. Furthermore, train operators should be able to use the tool to address maintenance and end-of-life problems. Description The tool is based on HTML/JavaScript pages and the web-pages are communicating with a database for storage. The tool requires extensive manual data input. The project did not develop an interface to a PDM or CAD system. Once the data is in the data base a number of questions can be answered, such as;

how much of material X is present in the whole train, system, subsystem, or component?

what is the value of an EPI for the whole train, system, subsystem, or component?

what data is missing? The tool allows electronic documents to be connected to components e.g. recycling descriptions. Use The amount of data that must be entered might prevent practical use but once the data is there the calculations are simple (but not obvious). The tool is difficult to use without training.

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One of the main advantages is that it is available for all users without installing any special software (as all web tools). Evaluation The tool is capable of calculating what material is present in a railway vehicle and to calculate some selected environmental performance indicators. The software design support works but needs further guidelines and examples of success stories. The ability to store everything (recycling manuals, disassembly instructions, etc.) in one database/tool is useful. Critique The tool is mainly focused on the train manufactures questions but could be extended for general industrial products. The tool has to be connected to existing data handling systems within companies to be practically usable. The tool needs to be more user-friendly and self-evident but the tool is stable and can handle very large product structures (>5000 components) Development The RAVEL project will not be further developed but the result of RAVEL is being developed further within the EU-project REPID. Relevance to DANTES The RAVEL concept is interesting but RAVEL workbench cannot be included in a DANTES platform without major reprogramming (if that is allowed?). It is possible that the result from the follow up project REPID can be used?

3. SUSTAINABILITY SITE AT ABB Tool Sustainability tool site (only available) on ABBs intranet, developed by SECRC/D Purpose The Sustainability tool site provides sustainability tools and information aimed to make the work related to sustainability issues cost-efficient (the meaning of sustainability on the site is mainly focused on traditional environmental management issues). Description The content of the site is divided into different headlines:

• Product development- tools to improve the sustainability performance for products and systems, e.g. design advises, list of restricted materials, the GATE model and Industrial IT certification.

• Product marketing- tools to compile sustainability related marketing material for products and systems.

• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) - tools to assess environmental impact over the product life cycle.

• Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)- a LCA based and certified communication tool.

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• Education & training- material for self training in LCA, EPD, environmental and sustainability issues.

• Legislation- legislation and conventions. • Standards- ISO and IEC standards related to sustainability issues

The user can search for keywords or browse for information on specific topics. Use The site is a collection of many different environmental information pages and it is possible that it can be difficult for a first time visitor to find the right information. On the other hand, having all the environmental information that a user could possibly need in one place seems to be a good idea. Evaluation The Sustainability tool site seems to fulfill its purpose. It is now introduced into a larger audience in ABB and feedback from users will hopefully improve it further. Critique The design guidelines that are given are general and the site does not contain many tools. The site covers little information about sustainability. Value ABB has paid for the development of the sustainability tool site so far and the ABB policy regarding this tool site is that it is “mandatory to apply these tools whenever relevant” i.e. ABB values the site highly and want all employees to use the site. Development The Sustainability tool site is continuously being updated and improved. Relevance to DANTES The Sustainability tool site is probably a good starting point and important contribution to a DANTES web site.

4. SPINE AT CPM SITE TOOL Tool SPINE@CPM site tool available at http://www.globalspine.com/Data_Store/index.htmdeveloped by CPM Purpose SPINE@CPM is an online database for Life Cycle Inventory data (LCI). SPINE@CPM enables quality maintained data publishing over intranet and Internet and allows users to exchange data. Users are LCA experts and LCA practitioners. Description SPINE is a LCI data format and the SPINE@CPM tool is a managing tool (quality review, data acquisition and publishing) for LCI data. The tool allows users to buy and download quality-controlled data. Use The tool is easy to use. Evaluation SPINE@CPM works well as a LCI management platform Critique

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SPINE@CPM site tool works well within its scope. Value LCA companies uses SPINE@CPM site tool to purchase LCI data Relevance to DANTES As a LCI data-handling tool it will fit within DANTES.

5. INSTEP FROM ECO-FRONTIERS Tool Instep-DfE available at http://61.32.103.236/ENGecodesign but you need a username/password from Eco-Frontiers. Purpose Handling of DFE information for development projects and environmental evaluation projects. Users are probably project leaders and/or development engineers. Description Users can create a project hierarchy and enter information on subsystems. By answering questionnaires on a specific subsystem the user can evaluate and assess how well it is designed. The tool presents specific design guidelines (for a PC and subsystems in PC). The tool has the possibility to make simplified LCA calculations and recyclabillity calculations. Use Requires lots of manual input to make any evaluation. Evaluation The tool is currently being developed and the version that has been reviewed had parts that were not implemented and parts that were not finished and they contained some bugs. Critique Needs to be finished before a full evaluation can be performed. Value It is difficult to assess the value but Instep is a commercial software company and they aim to make a commercial program. Development The tool is currently being developed. Relevance to DANTES A DfE tool like Instep would fit within the DANTES framework but one needs to see a finished product before one makes a decision. Since this is a commercial product the cost of use have to be examined.

6. LCALIGHT Tool

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LCALight found on ABBs intranet, developed by Dag Ravemark Purpose LCALight is a web-based LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) tool for “quick and adequate” environmental impact calculations. LCALight is available on the ABB intranet for all ABB employees. Due to the simplicity of the tool, it is well suited for self-learning and to demonstrate the LCA methodology. Once a user has learned the methodology and starts to have questions that are more difficult than the tool can answer the user is ready to use a more advanced LCA tool. Description LCALight is divided into two similar looking tools:

• LCALight, which can calculate environmental impact from materials, energy and transports

• Assembly-LCALight, which combine studies of components created in LCALight to system studies.

The LCALight tool contains LCI data for 45 materials, 47 electricity mixes, 6 fossil fuels and 9 transports. The Assembly-LCALight tool contains all EPDs of components carried out in ABB (currently 29 components) with metadata. Use The tool is very easy to use; anyone with reasonable computer skill should be able to use it without special training. Evaluation The tool is simple to use and fulfills its purpose Critique The tool works well within its limited scope. Development The tool is being developed in response to needs of users. Relevance to DANTES As a simple LCA tool it would fit in the DANTES framework.

7. LCA-E Tool LCA-E (http://extra.ivf.se/lcae/) was created cooperation between IVF and CPM, Chalmers. Purpose The tool allows users to do simplified life cycle assessments of electronic circuit boards. The tool can show how different component selection and different operating conditions can change the environmental impact. Description

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All the text in the tool is in Swedish. The inputs from the user are; how many components (of 14 different types), how many cm of wiring, energy use in normal operation and in stand-by mode and the lifetime of the component. The output is a LCI data or a weighted environmental impact for the circuit board. The user can evaluate the environmental impact from manufacture or the environmental impact from use or the impact from both.

Use The use of the tool is simple and no special training of a user is needed for the handling of the tool. Once the user has entered data on the circuit board, the user have to select what type of results he wants and click on calculate. The result is presented both in tabular and graphical form. Evaluation The tool works well within its framework. Critique The current version of the tool contains some programming errors and what seems like calculation errors. Relevance to DANTES A tool like this fits well within the DANTES framework.

8. WWLCAW Tool WWLCAW or World Wide LCA Workshop available at http://turtle.imi.chalmers.se/workshop/ where one can register a username and password and login. The tool was created by CPM and is now administered by IMI. Purpose WWLCAW is a web-based (Intranet or Internet) LCA-project support. It allows anyone to set up a LCA- project for a geographically distributed project and all projects have access to fully documented impact assessment data. WWLCAW has discussion forums where users easily can discuss e.g. quality of data. Use Software is not bug free and the user interface is complex. Datasets can be uploaded to or downloaded from the site and the tool calculates impact assessment indices as well as full LCAs Evaluation The tool is being developed but it looks promising. Critique The user interface is not easy to understand and the calculation seems to sometimes make some errors. WWLCAW is being further developed. Relevance to DANTES A tool like this project LCA tool fits well within the DANTES framework.

9. OMNIITOX Tool

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This is an ongoing EU-project under the "Competitive and Sustainable Growth"-program, running from 2001 to 2004. The project has not produced any tool yet, but it is included here since it covers a similar problem area as DANTES and will produce a result that can probably be included in the DANTES platform. The project is described at http://www.omniitox.net/ Purpose OMNIITOX will facilitate decision-making regarding potentially hazardous compounds by improving methods and developing information tools necessary for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) and Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA). The five main issues of the OMNIITOX-project:

1. Comparsion of LCIA and (E)RA 2. Comparing LCIA methods 3. Extending the scope of LCIA methods 4. Developing the OMNIITOX Information System 5. Use of LCA for regulatory assessment of chemicals

Description It seems that the OMNIITOX Information System will be a search portal for toxicological information (from existing databanks and other data sources) and to provide the average LCA practitioner with "information-at-your-fingertips" help over the Internet. A web-based prototype is currently not available but will appear at http://www.omniitox.net/Projekt/prototype.htm when it is ready. Use Not tested Evaluation Not tested Relevance to DANTES The result of OMNITOX will probably be highly relevant for DANTES.

10. TOXNET Tool There exist a number of tools on Internet that allows a user to search for chemical, physical and environmental properties of chemicals and materials. As an example, TOXNET is a publicly available search tool that does not require the users to be registered available at http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/ TOXNET is managed by U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health. Purpose

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TOXNET is a search tool for a cluster of databases on toxicology, hazardous chemicals, and related areas. Description TOXNET searches following databases:

• HSDB - Hazardous Substances Data Bank - Broad scope in human and animal toxicity, safety and handling, environmental fate, and more. Scientifically peer-reviewed.

• IRIS - Integrated Risk Information System - data from the EPA in support of human health risk assessment, is focusing on hazard identification and dose-response assessment.

• GENE-TOX - Peer-reviewed mutagenicity test data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• CCRIS - Chemical Carcinogenesis Research Information System - carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, tumor promotion, and tumor inhibition data provided by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

• Multiple Tox. - Database integrated search • TOXLINE - Extensive references to literature on biochemical,

pharmacological, physiological, and toxicological effects of drugs and other chemicals.

• DART/ETIC - Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology and Environmental Teratology Information Center - Current and older literature on developmental and reproductive toxicology.

• TRI - Toxics Release Inventory, annual estimated releases of toxic chemicals to the environment.

• ChemIDplus - Numerous chemical synonyms, structures, regulatory list information, and links to other databases containing information about the chemicals.

To search for information; enter any combination of words, chemical names, and numbers, including Chemical Abstracts Services (CAS) Registry Numbers (RN). The result of a search is a list of hits on each database. Evaluation of the result is left to the user. Use Easy to use but the evaluation of the found documents can be difficult. The tool is more for experts searching for specific data. Evaluation It works as a search tool. Critique Search is simple and quick. Evaluation support is needed for the average user. Development It is not clear if the tool is going to be developed further Relevance to DANTES As toxicology and hazardous chemicals database search it fits within DANTES framework?

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Other similar tools The chemical database: http://ull.chemistry.uakron.edu/erd/ Chemfinder.com http://chemfinder.cambridgesoft.com/

11. INTERNATIONAL MATERIAL DATA SYSTEM (IMDS) Tool International Material Data System (IMDS) described at http://www.mdsystem.com/ Purpose To facilitate the exchange of material data in the supply chain for the automobile industry. Description Suppliers send information about their product to users of their product. The system allows keeping some information hidden and only the aggregated materials are reported. Use Not tested Evaluation The tool cannot be evaluated but is included since it has an impressive list of users that actually uses it. Since the automotive industry uses the tool it must fulfill its purpose. Relevance to DANTES Not so relevant for DANTES.

12. VISMUT Tool VISMUT can be found at http://www.vismut.vi.se/default.htmand is VI (Sveriges Verkstads Industrier, http://www.vi.se) tool for communicating environmental information. The members of VI get a username and password, which is needed to enter the tool. Purpose VISMUT is a tool for identifying, quantify and communicating environmental performance indicators (EPI). VISMUT is mainly focused on small and medium sized enterprises that do not have an environmental management system installed. The aim is to provide management with compressed environmental information for target setting and control, and allow feedback to employees on measures taken. The information can also be communicated to customers, authorities and other stakeholders. Companies can, in exchange for the own EPIs, get the average values for similar companies and thereby compare their operation to others. Description

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The user has to enter data for e.g. number of employees, turnover, energy-, material consumption, waste generation and emissions. The tool calculates and stores predefined EPIs (covering: energy use, different material flows,

waste flows, emissions). The user can define new, personal EPIs that are calculated from entered data. Use The tool consists of a few pages where the user enters information and the tool calculates the EPIs. The tool is easy to use and understand. The user can define new, personal EPIs calculated from existing in data. Evaluation The tool fulfills the purpose. Critique Only the predefined input can be used to create new EPIs, for example, if it has been decided that failure rate is an important EPI, there is no possibility to calculate this from in data. Relevance to DANTES Could be relevant for DANTES.

13. NTMCALC Tool NTMCalc at http://www.ntm.a.se/ntmcalc/created by Nätverket för Godstransporter och Miljö (NTM, the Network for Freight Transport and the Environment). Purpose Calculate the emissions and energy consumption for a user defined transport chain. Users would be anyone interested in environmental performance of their transports. The tool could be used for optimizing transports by evaluating different transport strategies. Description The user defines a transport chain e.g. train, Götebog-Västerås, lorry Västerås-Sala,... and enters the weight of what is transported and data on the efficiency of the transport (fuel consumption, load factor,...). Result is presented as a table of emissions and energy consumption for all steps in the transport chain and for the total. Use The tool is very simple to use and works well. Evaluation The tool fulfills its purpose. Relevance to DANTES Evaluation of transports is not specifically mentioned in the application to EU but it is important environmental factor for all industries so a tool like this would fit in DANTES framework.

14. EMISSION CALCULATION Tool

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Emission calculation from Schenker logistics available at http://www.btl.se/schenker_btl/about/environment/english/calculation.html

Purpose Calculate the emissions for an ordinary transport by Schenker logistics Users would be anyone interested in environmental performance of their transports (by Schenker). Description The user enters the starting point and final destination of the transport by selecting first a country and then a town. Then the user have to enter the weight or volume of the transported package. The result is; total energy consumption, total transport distance for the different transport types (lorry and ferry) and a table with the total emissions. Use The tool is very simple to use. Evaluation The tool fulfills the purpose. Critique Could possibly be extended by showing maps and transport times? Value With a tool like this the sellers of transport services can directly present the impact of the service they are selling. Relevance to DANTES Evaluation of transports is not specifically mentioned in the application to EU but it is important environmental factor for all industries so a tool like this would fit in DANTES framework.

15. MILJÖKALKYL Tool Miljökalkyl by Green Cargo at http://194.68.214.168/ Purpose Miljökalkyl is a tool in Swedish for comparing environmental costs and emissions from transports between towns in Sweden. Green Cargo is a (mostly rail bound) logistics company that is trying to profile itself as providing environmental transports. Users are anyone that wants to compare air-, ship-, truck- or rail-cargo between two points within Sweden. Description The user enters the starting point and final destination of the transport by selecting a town. Then the user has to enter the weight of the transported package. Output is a table with emission for the transport done by air, ship, truck or rail (if it is possible, towns without port or airport do not have emissions for ship or air transport). The tool also makes an evaluation of the emissions based on the regional effects of emissions (in SEK, based on values from SIKA, “Statens institut för kommunikationsanalys”). Use Miljökalkyl is very easy to use.

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Evaluation The tool fulfills the purpose. Relevance to DANTES Evaluation of transports is not specifically mentioned in the application to EU but it is important environmental factor for all industries so a tool like this would fit in DANTES framework.

16. IRIS Tool Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) is prepared and maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) available at http://www.epa.gov/iris/index.html Purpose IRIS is an electronic database containing information on human health effects that may result from exposure to various chemicals in the environment. The information in IRIS is intended for those without extensive training in toxicology, but with some knowledge of health sciences. Description List all chemicals and select one of the names and all available information about this material are shown. The user can search on; Substance Name or CASRN, Keyword, Health effect, Evidence for Human Carcinogenicity or Quantitative Toxicity and Related Values Use Searching is easy but evaluating the result might be difficult for a layman. Evaluation The tool fulfills its purpose but when they say you do not need “extensive training in toxicology” they do not mean that you can be ignorant of toxicology Critique Support for users with evaluation of the result would be helpful. Development Relevance to DANTES As toxicology database search it fits within DANTES framework

17. SOIL SCREENING CALCULATIONS Tool Soil Screening Calculations (SSC) is prepared and maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) available at http://risk.lsd.ornl.gov/calc_start.htm Purpose

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Soil Screening Calculations presents a framework for developing risk-based, soil screening levels (SSLs) for protection of human health. The framework provides a flexible, tiered approach to site evaluation and screening level development. Sites where contaminant concentrations fall below SSLs, no further action or study is warranted under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). Users are; environmental experts soil cleaning experts and possibly site managers. Description The program calculates the screening level of contaminants from a list of (selectable) chemicals and selected pathways.

Use Input is simple but the evaluation of the result is probably only interesting for soil cleaning experts? Evaluation The tool (probably) fulfills its purpose. Critique Development Value Relevance to DANTES Probably not so interesting for DANTES.

18. OTHER WEB-BASED COMMERCIAL TOOLS The tools below are not being evaluated since they are commercial and not available for testing.

18.1Environmental management system There are tools for displaying and monitoring of data from environmental management system but these tools are not part of the DANTES methodology. Examples are

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Chemical safety software at http://www.chemicalsafety.com/ie.htm Eviance at http://www.enviance.com/content/pr.asp Proventia at http://www.proventia.fi/english_solutions.htm Isotop - ISO14001 implementation tool kit: http://www.isotop.net/

18.2Material Safety Data Sheets Software to help Health and Safety professionals to author, manage, deliver and track Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) over internet or intranet. Kelleher, Helmrich and Associates at http://www.online-msds.com/firstpage.htm Thompson MICROMEDEX at http://www.micromedex.com/products/chemknowledge/ HSE Global SAFEWEB at http://www.hse-global.com/ Dolphin Software at http://www.dolphinmsds.com/ EnviroMSDS at http://www.enviromsds.com/ MDL Information Systems at http://www.mdl.com/ohs/ Lexware International at http://www.lexware.net/

18.3SAP EH&S applications Ariel research cooperation at http://www.arielresearch.com/

19. TOOLS MENTIONED IN REQUIREMENT ANALYSIS REPORT

19.1EUSES “The ECB recommends using a software tool called EUSES (European Union System for the Evaluation of Substances) that can be found at http://ecb.jrc.it/Euses/.” Valuation: Seems to be a PC-tool, Bug list have not been updated since Sep 2000.

19.2Strategy Wheel “A software tool for the Strategy Wheel can be found at http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/dfs/ecoquest/Ecoquest.html.” Valuation: Seems to be a PC-tool, latest version for Windows95 - updated 1998

19.3Material Intensity Per Unit Service (MIPS) “This tool is fairly simple to use and the result is easy to understand. A lot of information can be found at http://www.wuppertal-institut.de/Projekte/mipsonline/ (in German).”

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Valuation: Excel-sheet tool, latest version for excel 3.0 - updated 1998

20. CONCLUSION Web-tools are an emerging area and they offer a number of advantages, such as; no need to install software, updates can be done in one place, it is instantaneous available to all users,... In this report 16 web-tools are evaluated to see if they fit into a DANTES framework and some of the tools seams to fit but some do not. It seems that tool with a clear goal and limited scope seems to function better, which is maybe not surprising. A tool with a limited scope is easier to program, implement and test. It is easier to get data and the required user input is smaller. We have mostly looked on publicly available tools so it is not surprising that the working tools have a more limited scope. It seems to be obvious that if a software-house would put in much effort in programming a more complex tool they would want to get some revenues from it and not make it freely available. On the other hand, no information or advertising about a “can-do-all” commercial web tool have been found so the web-tools that are described in this report seems to be typical of the ones you can find on the internet. That tools have limited scope may not mean that they are limited in use. A DANTES web platform with a number of small, well-specified tools would probably be more flexible and easier to use than a platform with fewer tools that have a broader focus (and thus requiring more user input).